Reclamation of dry cleaning fluid



May 3, 1966 J. K. CLEMENT RECLAMATION OF DRY CLEANING FLUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN K. CLEMENT AT TOR NEYS May 3, 1966 J. K. CLEMENT RECLAMATION 0F DRY CLEANING FLUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1962 m R E mM m c K N H .N

ATTORNEYS M 1966 J. K. CLEMENT 3,249,230-

RECLAMATION OF DRY CLEANING FLUID Filed Jan. 30, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

tj i1: JOHN K. CLEMENT @Afa%;@d

ATTORNEYS y 3, 1966 J. K CLEMENT 3,249,230

RECLAMATION OF DRY CLEANING FLUID Filed Jan. 30, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN K. CLEMENT ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ohio Filed Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,769 3 Claims. (Cl. 210-261) This invention relates to an improved dry cleaning system and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for reclaiming dry cleaning solvent used in a dry cleaning system.

Dry cleaning systems as presently known include a dry cleaning machine which is similar to a washing machine and in which clothes to be cleaned are contacted by dry cleaning fluid. The system also basically includes a filter through which the dry cleaning fluid is circulated for reclamation and reuse. The machine can be of many designs and consists essentially of a receptacle in which the clothes to be dry cleaned are placed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage through which dry cleaning fluid is passed with these passages being located on opposite sides of the receptacle. The receptacle is rotated or otherwise moved to provide increased relative movement between the clothes and the dry cleaning fluid to increase the cleaning action, as is known in the art. After the dry cleaning fluid leaves the dry cleaning machine, it is pumped to a filtering unit which usually includes a pressure-tight chamber in which is located a suitable permanent filter. This filter usually consists of one or more plates of the filtering material located laterally to the flow of the dry cleaning fluid or consists of a plurality of tubes of the filtering material through the walls of which the fluid flows. After the dry cleaning fluid is filtered, it is returned to the dry cleaning machine and the cycle is repeated. The system can include various additional devices such as coolers, lint traps, and deaeration tanks, as is well known in the art, and, for this reason, will not be discussed in detail here.

When the cleaning operation is initially started, a filtering powder is added to dry cleaning solvent, preferably along with activated charcoal and a sweetner. Dry cleaning soap also is often added to the dry cleaning fluid to remove water-soluble dirt from the clothes being cleaned. The filtering powder coats the permanent filters when the dry cleaning fluid passes therethrough so as to decrease the size of the pores in the permanent filter and thereby increase the filter action. During the operation, dirt carried in suspension in the dry cleaning fluid builds up on the filters to such an extent that it obstructs flow sufliciently to cause back pressure of the fluid on the upstream side of the filter to become excessive. It then becomes necessary to shut down the dry cleaning system and rejuvenate the filters. To accomplish this, some of the dry cleaning fluid often is passed through the filters in the opposite direction, a process known as backwashing, to force the sludge from the filter pores and thereby clean the filters. This operation can be aided by first subjecting the filters to a blast of air or to vibrations to loosen the sludge which is caked thereon.

The sludge, which consists essentially of the filter powder, the dirt from the cleaned clothes, the dry cleaning soap, and some of the dry cleaning solvent, is collected and removed from the bottom of the filter housing and then put in a separating unit to separate from it as much as possible of the dry cleaning solvent. This is accomplished in a number of ways. For example, in some systems the sludge is simply allowed to drain for a long period of time, such as 24 hours. In others, the sludge is placed under air pressure to force the dry cleaning solvent therethrough. Another way to remove the 3,249,239 Patented May 3, 1966 dry cleaning solvent is by a heating process in which the sludge is cooked or heated to a temperature sufficient to drive off some of the solvent. This solvent, in vapor form, is then collected in a condenser and reused. In all of these systems, the partially dried sludge is then simply thrown away.

Once the filters are cleaned, filtering powder is added to the reclaimed dry cleaning solvent, along with the other additives, and another period of dry cleaning can then be initiated.

The overall filter cleaning process, including reclamation of the cleaning solvent from the sludge, takes a considerable amount of time and equipment. However, the dry cleaning solvent is expensive and considerable effort must be expended to reclaim as much of it as possible. In spite of this, it has been found that from about A to 1 /2 gallons of the dry cleaning solvent still remain in the sludge, depending upon the particular separating apparatus employed.

The dry cleaning operation must be shut down during the filter cleaning process. In the case of coin-operated dry cleaning systems, the customers cannot use the dry cleaning machines during this period and if this happens frequently enough or for a long enough period, patronage is lost. This could be overcome if the filter cleaning step could be scheduled during hours in which the establishment is closed or seldom used but this is impossible to do because varying loads in the machines change the period of time between the filter-cleaning steps. In commercial dry cleaning establishments, the delay during the filter cleaning operation is less serious because the personnel usually serve as both dry cleaners and pressers, for example, so that they can switch from dry cleaning to pressing while the dry cleaning apparatus is shut down. However, this may still result in less than optimum use of the personnel and may also be disadvantageous during certain rush periods. Further, because of the size and nature of the equipment, the delay resulting from the filter cleaning operation in commercial establishments is usually much longer than in coin-operated dry cleaning businesses.

The present invention relates to improved reclamation of dry cleaning solvent in a dry cleaning system, which provides several advantages over the reclamation processes and apparatus heretofore known. By means of the present invention, a greater amount of dry cleaning solvent can be extracted from the sludge to reduce the cost of the dry cleaning process. Further, the reclamation can be accomplished at relatively little expense and in a much shorter period of time than heretofore possible. In some instances, the step of separating the remaining dry cleaning solvent from the sludge after the back-washing operation can be either shortened considerably or entirely eliminated to further eflect savings in capital outlay. In addition, in some instances, the new process and apparatus can be substituted for the entire filtering operating with the step of subsequently separating the dry cleaning solvent and sludge being eliminated and with the back-washing operation also being completely dispensed with.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved dry cleaning system and apparatus for reclaiming dry cleaning solvent used therein;

Another object of the invention is to provide a dry cleaning system in which a greater amount of dry cleaning solvent can be reclaimed.

Still another object of the invention is to enable the reclamation of dry cleaning solvent in a dry cleaning system to proceed more rapidly than heretofore possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the reclamation of dry cleaning solvent used in a dry cleaning system, by means of which reclamation of the usual back-washing step and apparatus therefor can be eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a dry cleaning system embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical cross section of an extractor used in the dry cleaning system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view in cross section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged view in vertical cross section of a portion of an extractor basket shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical cross section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in cross section of a portion of a filter bag shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified dry cleaningsystem embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, plan view, with parts broken away and with parts in cross section, of an extractor used in the dry cleaning system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of another modified dry cleaning system embodying the principles of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, plan view, with parts broken away and with parts in cross section, of an extractor used in the dry cleaning system of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a dry cleaning system embodying the principles of the invention includes a dry cleaning machine 20 in which clothes to be cleaned are placed. The machine 20, particularly for coin-operated systems, can be similar to a washing machine, including a rotatable receptacle in which the clothes are placed with the dry cleaning fluid being supplied to one portion of the washer through a line 22 and being removed therefrom through a line 24. The clothes are intimately contacted with the dry cleaning fluid by rotation or other suitable movement of the receptacle until all dirt is dissolved and washed away by the fluid over a period of time.

The dry cleaning solvent used in the dry cleaning fluid may be of a number of types known in the art, such as perchlor ethylene, to which is added several additional materials to produce the dry cleaning fluid. A filtering powder, generally a diatomaceous earth, is added to increase the filtering effectiveness of the filter in the system, as will be discussed more fully subsequently. In addition, activated charcoal and a sweetner are included, as well as a soap which enables certain water soluble dirt to be removed from the clothing. It is to be understood, however, that the invention need not be limited to any specific dry cleaning solvent or fluid.

The dry cleaning fluid discharged from the washer through the line 24 passes through a suitable lint and button trap 26 and then through a deaeration tank 28 which removes air from the fluid which is mixed therewith in the washer 20. The dry cleaning fluid then passes through an inlet line 30 to a pump 32 which supplies the fluid through an outlet line 34 to a filtering tank 36 containing a filter 38. After the dirt is removed from the cleaning fluid in the tank 36, it passes through a recirculation line 40 to the washer line 22. Additional or make-up dry cleaning solvent can be supplied to the system from a storage tank 42 through a line 44, as controlled by a valve 46.

Thereclaimed dry cleaning fluid can then contact and remove dirt from the same or other clothes in the washer 20, thereupon again passing through the system for additional use. The dry cleaning solvent has a very long life and can be used for many dry cleaning cycles if it is properly reclaimed. It is, of course, to the best interests of the dry cleaner that the solvent be used to the fullest extent possible because it is expensive and excessive loss of it will greatly increase the cost of the dry cleaning process.

Referring more particularly now to the details of the reclamation part of the dry cleaning system, the filter represented at 38 can be of several types as well known in the art. For example, the filter can consist of a number of layers of filtering media located laterally to the direction of flow of the dry cleaning fluid or can consist of a number of closed end tubes of filtering media laid parallel to the flow of the dry cleaning fluid, through the walls of which tubes the dry cleaning fluid passes. The filtering powder and other additives, discussed above, are added to the dry cleaning fluid through a suitable hopper 48 which can be located in any suitable position in the system and through which the additives are supplied at the beginning of operation. After the filtering powder is added to the fluid, it collects in the pores of the filter 38 when passing therethrough thereby partially to close the pores and to increase the eifectiveness of the filter to enable it to remove the dirt dissolved in and carried by the dry cleaning fluid. The filter 38, in combination with the filtering powder, is so effective that the dry cleaning fluid flowing through the recirculation line 40 is substantially as pure as new dry cleaning fluid.

Over a period of time, the dirtbuilds up on the filter 38 to such an extent that it is extremely diflicult for the dry cleaning fluid to pass therethrough. When this occurs, the filter 38 must be cleaned to restore its porosity to a reasonable amount. To accomplish this, the flow of the fluid through the filter tank 36 is reversed so that the dry cleaning fluid now passes through the filter 38 in the opposite direction. This separates the dirt and filtering powder from the pores of the filter after which the dirt and powder can fall to the bottom of the tank 36. Frequently, the filter 381is vibrated or blasted with air, for example, to aid in the separation.

After the filter'38 has been cleaned, the resulting sludge and some of the dry cleaning solvent are drawn from the bottom of the tank through a line 50 when a valve 52 therein is opened. The sludge and dry cleaning solvent are then caught in a separator 54 which can be of several types, as discussed previously. In the present instance, the sludge is caught on a strainer 56 on which it remains for a lengthy period of time, in the order of 24 hours. During this time, a substantial amount of the dry cleaning solvent passes through the strainer. 56 and into the bottom of the. separator 54. It can then be removed through a line 58 controlled by a valve 60 and passed back into the main dry cleaning fluid circulating system. In some instances, the separation of the dry cleaning solvent from the sludge is hastened by supplying compressed air to the separator 54 above the sludge so as to drive the solvent through the sludge and into the bottom of the separator. For this purpose, a compressor 62 is provided which supplies compressed air to the top of the separator 54 through a line 64. With or without the compressed air, after a considerable amount of the dry cleaning solvent has been removed from the sludge, the sludge with the remaining solvent is then simply thrown away.

The dry cleaning process can again be instigated by adding the proper filtering powder and other additives through the hopper 48 to the dry cleaning fluid in the system and circulating the fluid enough to cause the powder to coat the filter 38. The system is then in condition to receive and clean clothes, in the machine 20.

The sludge removed from the separator and thrown away still contains approximately /2 to 1 /2 gallpns of dry cleaning solvent, such as the. perchlorethylene, which ordinarily is wasted. However, most of the. remaining dry cleaning solvent can be separated from the sludge by means of an extraction step accomplished with an extractor 66. Accordingly, the sludge removed from the separ-ator 54 is placed in the extractor 66 as indicated by a dotted line 68 and much of the remaining solvent is extracted. This solvent is then caught in a suitable receptacle 70 and can be supplied back to the system by any suitable means, such as pouring it into the storage tank 42 or into the hopper 48.

Before the reclaimed dry cleaning fluid is supplied to the system again, it can first be distilled by means of a cooker 71. This cooker can be of the type now used to reclaim all of the dry cleaning fluid, as previously dis cussed, and which would be used ordinarily in place of the separator 54. The cooker 71, in this instance, removes any remaining contaminants from the extracted fluid which might build up to objectionable proportions over a period of time in some systems. This is accomplished by heating and distilling the fluid to separate it from the contaminants and then condensing the fluid in another portion of the cooker from which it can be removed and placed back in the system.

Even with the use of the cooker 71, the new reclamation process still is advantageous over those heretofore known. The process requires only that the fluid be vaporized and it is not necessary to cook or heat the entire cake of sludge as is required when a cooker is used alone. Consequently, the cost of operating the cooker also is considerably lower. The entire process also is much faster than when only a cooker is used.

The extractor 66 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-6. The extractor 66 basically includes a housing 72, :a lid 74, a resiliently supported motor 76, and a spinner basket 78. The extractor 66 is supported on three feet 80 each of which has inwardly extending flange 82 covered by a rubber block 84. A heavy supporting pan 86, made of glass fiber-reinforced plastic material, is supported on the blocks 84 and, in turn, supports the motor 76 through projecting arms 88. A rubber sleeve 90 (see FIG. 3, also) surrounds each of the arms 88 and each of the sleeves 90 is supported by a V-shaped portion 92 of the supporting pan 86 and an inverted V-sh-aped strap 94. A rein-forcing strap 96 can be located under the V-shaped portion 92 of the pan 86 and bolted through the pan to the upper strap 94, if desired. With this arrangement, the motor 76 is free to move about considerably, particularly around an axis through the two projceting arms 88. Thus, the arms 88 can move with respect to the pan 86 because of the rubber sleeve 90 and the pan 86 can also yield considerably because of the material of' which it is made and also because it is supported on the heavy rubber blocks 84.

The motor 76 has a drive shaft 98 extending upwardly there-from with a rounded hexagonal drive nut 100 at the upper end thereof. The nut 100 engages a hexagonal recess 102 in a central hub 104 of the basket 78 so that the basket 78 rotates with the shaft 98 and yet the basket 78 can pivot to a substantial degree :on the shaft 98. A heavy, annular cast iron bottom ring 106 is affixed to the bottom of the basket 78 to lower the center of gravity of the basket and to enable it to seek its own plane of rotation when driven by the motor 76. Thus, the basket 78 is self-balancing even though each load therein is differently arranged.

Beside the central hub 104 and the heavy ring 106, the basket 78 includes perforated side walls 188 and a bottom liner 110, both preferably being of stainless steel. The side wall 108 has slitted perforation-s 112 as shown in FIG. 4 which are formed by lancing out curved portions 114. With this arrangement, no metal is removed to form the perforations 112 so that the side walls 108 are stronger than they would be otherwise. Further, the holes do not produce a siren effect as do conventional straight holes. In addition, by directing the curved portions 114 upwardly, as shown, it has been found that the liquid ejected from the basket 78 actually tends to flow upwardly toward the top 74 to a lesser extent than if the curved portions were directed downwardly.

In the present instance, the lid 74 preferably is connected to the casing 72 by a hinge (not shown) and is held tightly with respect thereto by means of wing bolts 116 cooperating with flanges 118. Because of the fumes from the dry cleaning solvent, the lid 74 is provided with an annular groove 120 in which is inserted a packing ring 122. The upper edge of the casing 72 extends intb the groove 120 and engages the packing ring 122 in gas-tight relationship.

Below the basket 78 is an annular fluid receptacle 124 which receives the solvent spun from the basket 78 and from which it drains through a drain passage 126 and through a drain nipple 128 which is no larger than necessary in order to contain the fumes of the dry cleaning solvent as much as possible within the casing 72. The pan 124 has a central raised portion 129 which prevents the fluid from draining through a central opening 130 (FIG. 6) in the receptacle 124.

The opening 130 must be relatively large to prevent the shaft 98 from contacting the receptacle 124 as the basket 78 rotates, since the shaft 98 often moves laterally a substantial distance during the rotation. The fumes from the dry cleaning fluid must be prevented from passing below the receptacle 124 because it attacks the lubricant 'of the motor 76 and would soon cause failure of the bearings. To prevent this, a conical seal indicated at 132 is provided between the opening 130 and the shaft 98. As shown in FIG. 5, the seal 132 includes a bearing hub or connecting member 134 of truncated conical configuration to which a yieldable sealing wall 136 is affixed 'by a suitable ring 138. The lower end of the -wall 136 is attached to an upstanding flange 140 defining the opening 130 by means of a resilient ring 142. The bearing hub 134 in this instance is wooden and rides on a steel shaft; however, the hub 134 can also be of an oily plastic material such as Teflon or certain types of nylon and the shaft can be of polished stainless steel. The sealing wall 136 in this instance is of heavy canvas which is stiff enough to support the hub 134 without the necessity of using any special shoulder on the shaft 98. It has been found that the canvas is sufficient to prevent the passage of fumes therethrough even though it is usually considered to be a relative pervious material. The upper ring 138 can be of Wire and the lower ring 142 can be of neoprene.

The basket 78 is lined with a filter bag 144 which includes a relatively heavy fabric bottom 146 and a relatively heavy fabric top 148 with a filtering fabric 150 located therebetween and extending over substantially all of the perforations 112 of .the side wall 108. The bag 144 further includes a central fabric boot 154 which fits over the hub 184 and is sewed to the bottom 146. Three straps 152 connect the heavy bottom 146 with the heavy upper portion 148 so that the weight of the sludge caught in the bag 144 need not be supported through the filtering fabric 150 when the bag is removed. A number of fabric materials are available which will be suitable for the filtering material 150. By way of a specific example, one such material is woven of 30 denier nylon yarn with the nominal average mesh being 97 x 84 threads per inch on the warp and fill, respectively. The upper edge of the upper fabric 148 is sewed to a nylon rope 156 which is slightly resilient and can be stretched around and snapped into a gnoove 158 formed at the upper rim of the basket 78. A strap handle sewed to the upper end of the boot 154 can be grasped by an operator to pull upwardly on the lower portions of the bag 144 and break the cake of sludge formed on the inner surface of the filtering material 150. The cake of sludge must be broken, of course, before it can be removed from the basket 78 since its diameter is larger than the diameter of the opening at the top of the basket 78.

With the bag 144 positioned in the basket 78 with the rope 156 in the groove 158 and the boot 154 on the hub 184, the sludge is placed in the bag 144 and the motor 76 is turned on to spin the basket 78 at 1725 rpm. Afiter about 15 minutes substantially all of the dry cleaning solvent that can be obtlained from the sludge will have been extracted therefrom. The motor 76 is then turned off and a brake indicated at 162 is applied to stop the basket 78 quickly so that the filtler bag 144 can be removed with the sludge therein, after it is broken up, with the sludge then thrown away. When the bag 144 or another bag is positioned in the basket 78, the extractor 66 is then ready to receive another batch of sludge from the separator 54. Also, the dry cleaning solvent collected in the receptacle 70 from the spout 128 is supplied back to the system for further use.

The brake 162 can be of any suitable design and, in this instance, includes a brake plate 164 which rotates with the shaft 98 and a brake arm 166 pivotally mounted on the motor housing and having brake pads 168 between it and the brake plate 164. The :outer end of the brake arm 166 is supported on a link 176 which is pivotally supported by a rod 172. The link 176 is pivotally moved in a vertical plane by means of a solenoid 174 which pushes the link 170 upward-1y so that the brake pad 168 engages the brake plate 164 when current is supplied to the solenoid 174. When the solenoid 174 is not actuated, a spring 176 pulls the arm 166 downwardly to separate the pad from the brake plate and enable free notation of the shaft 98.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 7, a modified dry cleaning system is thereshown. The system in this instance includes the same dry cleaning machine 20 with the inlet line 22 and outlet line 24, along with the lint trap 26, the deaerator 28, the line 30, the pump 32, the line 34, the filter tank 36, the storage tank 42, the line 44, and the valve 46. The operation of the system is the same as in FIG. 1 with the machine 20 being used to clean the clothes and the filter tank 36, including the same filter 38, being used to reclaim the dry cleaning Also in this instance, the filter 38 can be cleaned by back-washing and by air Oil vibration, if desired, with the resulting sludge falling into the bottom of the tank 36. In the present instance, however, when the sludge is removed from the tank 36 by means of a line 178 controlled by valve 180, it is supplied to a separating tank 1 82 located above an extractor 184. The extractor 184 there-through and out a flexible outlet coupling 192 to a line 194 which directs this solvent back to the system.

, The sludge retained behind the filter 190 is much dryer than it was when first removed fnom the tank 136 but is somewhat wetter than the sludge supplied to the extractor 66 of FIGS. 1 and 2 firom the separator 54. How- .ever, enough of the dry cleaning solvent is removed by v the filter 190 that the extractor 184 can handle the sludge and the remaining solvent without being of prohibitive size to do so. If the sludge were supplied from the filtering tank 36 directly to the extractor 184, it would contain enough dry cleaning solvent that the extractor will have to be considerably enlarged to accommodate it. Otherwise, part of the solvent and the sludge would flow around the top Of the basket 78 and out the drain 128 without being filtered. enough to prevent this, its cost would more than offset If the extractor were made big the cost of a smaller extiractor and the separator 54.

This results because the various parts of the extractor.

.must be strengthened considerably when [of larger size so that the cost of the extractor increases very rapidly with an increase in diameter thereof. However, by using the [relatively simple separating tank 182, enough of the dry cleaning fluid is removed that the extractor 184 need not be of uneconomical size.

The flexible couplings 188 and 192 enable the tank 182 to be raised with the lid of the extractor when the filter bag 144 therein is to be removed in the same manner as before. However, if desired, the pipe 186 can be brought into the extractor from the side, below the lid and above the upper edge of the basket 78, simply by lengthening the casing somewhat.

Another modified dry cleaning system is shown in FIG. 9. In this instance, the system includes the dry cleaning machine 20 with the inlet and outlet lines 22 and 24 along with the lint trap 26, the deaerator 28, the inlet line 38, the pump 32, and the outlet line 34. However, the dry cleaning fluid is supplied to a filtering extractor 196, to be discussed subsequently, which is substituted for the filtering tank 36. The filtered dry cleaning fluid then flows from the drain passage of the extractor through a line 198 and back to the inlet line 22 for the machine 20. Actually, the extractor 196 takes the place of the filtering tank 36, the separating tank 182, and the extractor 184 shown in FIG. 7, and also takes the place of the filtering tank 36, the separator 54, the extractor 66, and the associated equipment shown in FIG. 1. The extractor 196 receives all of the dry cleaning fluid from the system and, hence, must be much larger than the extractor 184 or 66 which receive only a small portion of the solvent. However, the interior of the extractor 196 is substantially the same as that of the extractor 184 or 66 and, hence, will not be shown or discussed in detail. While the extractor 196 is more costly than either of the other two, it replaces a con siderable amount of equipment, as discussed above.

In this instance, the dry cleaning fluid in the system is directed from the pump 32 and the line 34 centrally into a basket in the extractor 196 through a pipe 200 located in the lid thereof. The pipe 200 is connected to the line 34 through a flexible coupling 202 to enable the lid to be opened, as before. However, the pipe 200' could also be brought into the side wall of the casing just above the basket, if desired. The fluid flows through the filtering material of the bag which can be the same as the material of the bag 144, or slightly finer, and then drains to, in this instance, line 198 which is connected directly in the system and can be much larger than the spout 128 because it is entirely within a closed system.;

When the sludge in the bag builds up to the point that it seriously restricts flow of dry cleaning fluid therethrough, the extractor 196 is simply stopped, the lid opened, and the bag removed as before, with the cake of sludge first being broken up and the bag then lifted out. Either a new bag can be inserted in the basket or the, same bag emptied and reused. The time for replacing the bag can .be shortened even further by replacing the entire basket and bag with another basket with a clean bag therein. This can be accomplished simply by lifting the basket 05 the drive shaft and lowering the new one thereon. The lid can then be closed again and the. operation restarted in a matter of minutes. This savings in time is largely brought about because the back-washing and related operations, required with the filter 38 in the tank 36 of FIGS. 1 and 7, can be totally eliminated. Neither need the system remain shut down while the sludge and solvent are removed from the tank 36.

In addition to saving time, the system of FIGS. 9 and 1 0 does not require continuous circulation of the dry cleaning fluid. In present systems, the dry cleaning fluid must be continually recirculated through the system, even when the dry cleaning machine 20 is not in use, because otherwise the filtering powder will fall from the filter and the filtering action thereof will be decreased. However, with the extractor 196, the powder can be retained on the sides of the filtering bag simply by rotating the basket at 9 a slow speed when the system is not being used. This retains the powder on the filter without the necessity of circulating the dry cleaning fluid through the system continually.

The system of FIGS. 9 and has another advantage in that less cleaning fluid is needed than in conventional systems. This is true primarily because the relatively large filter tank such as the tank 36 of FIGS. 1 and 7 is eliminated, which tank normally must be kept filled with the dry cleaning fluid. In contrast, the extractor 196 contains very little fluid, only a small amount on the walls of the basket therein. Thus, considerably less dry cleaning fluid need be stocked for a given dry cleaning operation and the capital outlay therefor is correspondingly reduced.

Various modifications of the above described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and the tenor of .the depending claims.

I claim:

1. Means for reclaiming dry cleaning solvent in a dry cleaning system including an extractor comprising a housing, a lid for said housing, sealing means for connecting said lid and-said housing in gas-tight relationship, a motor in a lower portion of said housing with a vertically-extending drive shaft, means for resiliently mounting said motor within said housing to enable lateral movement of said shaft, a basket having a perforate sidewall and means to engage said drive shaft, a liquid-receiving pan supported -by said housing below said basket and above said motor, said pan having a central opening through which said shaft extends, said opening being larger than said shaft to enable the lateral movement of said shaft, sealing means connecting said shaft and said pan around said opening, a filtering bag in said basket, said bag h-aving a heavy fabric bottom and a heavy fabric top, said top having a band extending t-hereon, said basket forming a groove at the upper end in which the band is engaged, said bag having a wall of filtering material between said bottom and said top, said filtering material being positioned generally inside said perforate sidewall of said basket when said bag is engaged in said basket, said filtering material enabling dry cleaning solvent to pass therethrough while retaining solid particles carried by solvent in said bag, a separating tank above said extractor, an inlet pipe connected to a central portion of said lid and supporting said separating tank therea-bove, said inlet pipe communicating with a central portion of said basket, said separating tank having a slanted filter extending across said tan-k at an angle above said pipe to collect solid particles from said solvent, an inlet for said separating tank on the same side of said filter as said pipe, and an outlet for said separating tank on the side of said filter opposite said pipe.

2. Means for reclaiming dry cleaning solvent in a dry cleaning system including an extractor comprising a housing, a lid for said housing, sealing means for connecting said lid and said housing in gas-tight relationship, a motor in a lower portion of said housing with a vertically-extending drive shaft, means for resiliently mounting said motor within said housing to enable lateral movement of said shaft, a basket having a perforate sidewall and means to engage said drive shaft, a filtering bag in said basket, said bag having a wall of filtering material positioned generally inside said perforate sidewall of said basket, said filtering material enabling dry cleaning solvent to pass therethrough while retaining solid particles carried by solvent in said bag, a separating tank above said extractor, an inlet pipe connected to a central portion of said lid and supporting said separating tank thereabove, said inlet pipe communicating with a central portion of said basket, said separating tank having a slanted filter extending across said tank at an angle above said pipe to collect solid particles from said solvent, an inlet for said separating tank on the same side of said filter as said pipe, and an outlet for said separating tank on the side of said filter opposite said pipe.

6. Means for reclaiming dry cleaning solvent in a dry cleaning system including an extractor comprising a housing, a top for said housing, a motor in a lower portion of said housing with a vertically-extending drive shaft, means for resiliently mounting said motor within said housing to enable lateral movement of said shaft,.a basket having a perforate sidewall and means to engage said drive shaft, a liquid-receiving pan supported by said housing below said basket and above said motor, said pan having a central opening through which said shaft extends, said opening being larger than said shaft to enable the lateral movement of said shaft, sealing means connecting said shaft and said pan around said opening, a filtering bag in said basket, said bag having a wall of filtering material positioned generally inside said perforate-sidewall of said basket, said filtering material enabling'dry cleaning sol- Vent to pass therethrough while retaining solid particles carried by solvent in said bag, a separating tank, an inlet pipe connected to a central portion of said top and to said separating tank, said inlet pipe communicating with a central portion of said basket, said separating tank having a slanted filter extending across said tank at an angle to collect solid particles from said solvent, an inlet for said separating tank on the same side of said filter as said pipe, and an outlet for said separating tank on the side of said filter opposite said pipe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,296 2/1898 Snyder et al 210-380 X 2,144,157 1/ 1939 J orgenson 210-365 X 2,174,793 10/1939 Langan et al. 8-142 2,343,694 3/1944 Mitchem 210-368 2,366,236 1/ 1945 Clark 210-365 2,584,942 2/1952 Thearle 210-365 X 2,634,776 4/1953 Kowan et al. 210-3 X 2,867,329 1/ 1959 Miller 210-360 2,907,464 10/1959 Ellis 210-3 60 ,375 4/ 1961 Kircher et a1 8-1142 3,030,172 4/ 1962 Edwards 8-142 3,063,564 111/1962 Smith et al. 210-78 3,100,191 8/1963 Smith et al 210-193 X 3,151,065 9/1964 Smith et al. 210-380 X 3,154,465 10/1964 Degnen 55-189 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS O.-WOLK, Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR RECLAIMING DRY CLEANING SOLVENT IN A DRY CLEANING SYSTEM INCLUDING AN EXTRACTOR COMPRISING A HOUSING, A LID FOR SAID HOUSING, SEALING MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID LID AND SAID HOUSING IN GAS-TIGHT RELATIONSHIP, A MOTOR IN A LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOUSING WITH A VERTICALLY-EXTENDING DRIVE SHAFT, MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY MOUNTING SAID MOTOR WITHIN SAID HOUSING TO ENABLE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT, A BASKET HAVING A PERFORATE SIDEWALL AND MEANS TO ENGAGE SAID DRIVE SHAFT, A LIQUID-RECEIVING PAN SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING BELOW SAID BASKET AND ABOVE SAID MOTOR, SAID PAN HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFT EXTENDS, SAID OPENING BEING LARGER THAN SAID SHAFT TO ENABLE THE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT, SEALING MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAFT AND SAID PAN AROUND SAID OPENING, A FILTERING BAG IN SAID BASKET, AND BAG HAVING A HEAVY FABRIC BOTTOM AND A HEAVY FABRIC TOP, SAID TOP HAVING A BAND EXTENDING THEREON, SAID BASKET FORMING A GROOVE AT THE UPPER END IN WHICH THE BAND IS ENGAGED, SAID BAG HAVING A WALL OF FILTERING MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID BOTTOM AND SAID TOP, SAID FILTERING MATERIAL BEING POSITIONED GENERALLY INSIDE SAID PERFORATE SIDEWALL OF SAID BASKET WHEN SAID BAG IS ENGAGED IN SAID BASKET, SAID FILTERING MATERIAL ENABLING DRY CLEANING SOLVENT TO PASS THERETHROUGH WHILE RETAINING SOLID PARTICLES CARRIED BY SOLVENT IN SAID BAG, A SEPARATING TANK ABOVE SAID EXTRACTOR, AN INLET PIPE CONNECTED TO A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID LID AND SUPPORTING SAID SEPARATING TANK THEREABOVE, SAID INLET PIPE COMMUNICATING WITH A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAI BASKET, SAID SEPARATING TANK HAVING A SLANTED FILTER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID TANK AT AND ANGLE ABOVE SAID PIPE TO COLLECT SOLID PARTICLES FROM SAID SOLVENT, AN INLET FOR SAID SEPARATING TANK ON THE SAME SIDE OF SAID FILTER AS SAID PIPE, AND AN OUTLET FOR SAID SEPARATING TANK ON THE SIDE OF SAI FILTER OPPOSITE SAID PIPE. 